Overview of Research
Designs
Qualitative
Outline
• Comparison of Qualitative and
Quantitative Research
• Types of Qualitative Research
• Data Collection in Qualitative
Studies
• Sample Size in Qualitative
Studies
• Reliability and Validity of data
• Analysis
Comparison of
Qualitative and
Quantitative Research
• Quantitative--based on
manipulation and control,
results verified by sense data
(by the researcher)
• Qualitative--based on insights
and understandings about
individual perception of events
(by the subjects)
• Quantitative research--rich, real
and valid data , hard, replicable
and reliable data, deductive,
theory testing approach,
whereas:
Qualitative research
• in-depth descriptions of people
or events
• researcher focuses on patterns
and themes, rather than the
testing of hypotheses
• Inductive approach--open to
new ideas and theories
Types of Qualitative
Research
•
•
•
•
•
Phenomenological Studies
Ethnographic Studies
Grounded Theory Studies
Historical Studies
Case Studies
Phenomenological
Studies
Examine human experiences
through the descriptions of the
people involved-- “lived
experiences”
Involves the qualities of
humanness, e.g.:
• individualism
• self determination
• wholeness
• uniqueness
Bracketing
• In order to understand other’s
lived experiences the
researcher must first determine
what she expects and
deliberately put this aside.
• Example, bereft mother of SIDs
infant--researcher says what
would I feel and then put that
feeling aside
Phenomenological
Research
• No preconceived notions
• Researchers must “dwell with
the subjects’ descriptions”
• Grounded in philosophy
Ethnographic Studies
originally used by anthropologists
• Collection of data and analysis
about cultural groups
• Explaining how actions in one
world make sense from the
point of view of another world
• The systematic process of
observing, detailing,
documenting, the lifeways of
one culture in order to
understand our own.
Ethnography
• Researcher “goes native” and
lives with and adopts the
culture of another.
• Interview key “informants”
about the meaning of cultural
rites and rituals.
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–
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Participant observation
interviews
genealogy
demography
life histories
New questions emerge as data is analyzed.
Ethnography in
Nursing Research
• The nurse can explore health
care from the point of view of
health care consumers.
Grounded
Theory
• Developed by Glaser and
Strauss
• Data are collected and analyzed
and then a theory is developed
that is “grounded” in the data.
• A major source of theory
development
Grd. Thry--Constant comparison
• The process by which data
collection and analysis occur
simultaneously--new data is
compared to that which has already
been gathered. Pertinent concepts
are assigned codes which are
reviewed with new data and
interpretations.(soothing, placating,
asserting)
• Literature consulted to determine if
these codes have been identified
before--no preliminary review avoids
“premature closure”.(problem with
early ROL)
Historical Studies
• Identification, Location, Evaluation
and Synthesis of data from the past
to connect past happenings to the
present and future.
– Problem identified
– Literature reviewed
– Research questions formulated
– Data collected and analyzed.
• The researcher becomes a detective
Data are different
• Documents (newspapers,
journals, legal documents,
diaries)
• relics
• artifacts
• photographs
• oral history
Primary Sources
Preferred
•
•
•
•
•
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Oral histories
Written records
Diaries
Eyewitnesses
Photographs
Physical evidence
External vs. Internal
Criticism of the data
• External Criticism--authenticity
of the data
• Internal Criticism--accuracy of
the data
Case Studies
• In-depth examinations of
people or groups of people.
Organizations, services or
experiences may be the focus.
• May be qualitative or
quantitative
• Content Analysis used to
examine “themes”
• Selection bias and attrition may
be difficulties.
Data collection in
qualitative research
• No specified time or end point
Methods
• semistructured interviews
• participant observation
• focus groups, etc.
Saturation
• Data become redundant, no new
information generated
Sample size
• No set sample size (N)
• Usually smaller than
quantitative
• Most qualitative samples range
from 6-30
Reliability and Validity
• No rigor, objectivity, nor replicability
• Relevance of findings more
important
• Triangulation of data sought for
reliability
• Saturation used for both reliability
and validity
Analysis
• Compared by the grading of
multiple choice (quantitative) to
essay (qualitative) exams
• word analysis
• content analysis
• identification of themes
• on going and circular